Exhibition Opening: To Uncover and Reveal to the World

Before the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, there was the library of Arturo “Arthur” Schomburg: race man, bookworm, and scholar of the African diaspora. Join us for the opening of our newest exhibition beginning at 12 Noon.

The exhibition showcases more than one hundred items from the famous bibliophile's original collection, which The New York Public Library acquired in 1926—establishing the basis for the Schomburg Center’s vast collections.

In the evening (6–9 PM), registered attendees will enjoy a program featuring exhibition curator Dr. Laura Helton, contributors to a companion publication Black Studies on 135th Street: The Founding and Future of the Schomburg Collection (Yale University Press), a live musical performance by jazz trumpeter and composer Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, and reception.

The exhibition and book kicks off the second phase of the Schomburg Center’s centennial as one of the world’s largest and oldest research libraries dedicated to the preservation of Black diasporic history. To Uncover and Reveal to the World and Black Studies on 135th Street are part of the Home to Harlem initiative—a multiyear effort by scholars, archivists, and librarians to catalogue every object in Arturo Schomburg’s original collection. While his collection, known as the “seed collection,” has always been part of the Schomburg Center, a Home to Harlem grant from the Mellon Foundation allowed staff to identify, research, and enhance access to almost every item in his personal collection.

A national landmark and storied research center located in the heart of Harlem, the Schomburg Center stewards a collection of 11 million items and is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of Black history and culture.

Leadership support for the Schomburg Center's Centennial is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and Andreas C. Dracopoulos.

Lead support for To Uncover and Reveal to the World and the Home to Harlem Initiative is provided by the Mellon Foundation.

Major support for centennial exhibitions is provided by the MetLife Foundation. Additional support is provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation.

BAGS/COAT CHECK To ensure the safety of our exhibition items (art, artifacts, etc.) and provide a smooth experience for all evening guests, we kindly ask that visitors leave large bags—including book bags, backpacks, and shoulder bags—at home or in a secure location before arriving at the Schomburg Center. Our coat check has limited capacity and cannot accommodate oversized items. Any item that could pose a risk to the artwork/artifacts or other visitors may be prohibited at the discretion of our security team. Thank you for helping us protect the collection and maintain a safe environment for everyone.

FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED Events are free and open to all, but due to space constraints registration is requested. Registered guests are given priority check-in 15 to 30 minutes before start time. After the event starts all registered seats are released regardless of registration, so we recommend that you arrive early.

GUESTS Please note that holding seats in the Langston Hughes Auditorium is strictly prohibited and there is no food or drinks allowed anywhere in the Schomburg Center.

AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING Programs are photographed and recorded by the Schomburg Center. Attending this event indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your recorded image for any all purposes of the New York Public Library.

E-TRANSPORTATION NYPL policy prohibits electric transportation devices (e.g., motorbikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards) from being brought into or stored at library sites for any length of time, as this is the best way to keep our spaces & people safe.

PRESS Please send all press inquiries (photo, video, interviews, audio-recording, etc) at least 24-hours before the day of the program to Leah Drayton at [email protected].

Please note that professional video recordings are prohibited without expressed consent.

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Host or Publisher Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture